Trousers and the method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A trouser formed of elastic shrinkable material in one piece form having a torso stabilized in stretched condition and leg portions stabilized in shrunken condition. A method for forming said trousers from a flat sheet or tubular form by cutting and joining selected edges and heat treating the fabric. Apparatus comprising means for molding said joined trousers in stabilized form.

Unite States Patent [191 Harms et a1.

TROUSERS AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Inventors: Karel Bar-to Vladislav Bezemek,

both of Brno, Czechoslovakia Vyzkumny ustav pletarsky, Brno, Czechoslovakia Filed: Oct. 26, 1970 Appl. No.: 83,882

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 29, 1969 Czechoslovakia 711969 US. Cl. 2/227, 2/243 R lint. Ci... A4ld 1/06 Field of Search 2/227, 243 R, 224, 2/115, 69; 66/177; 38/144; 161/411, 402; 264/289; 28/721; 26/69 A, 69 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1964 Sakurai 2/224 R Oct. 9, 1973 3,025,622 3/1962 Hilton 2/243 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 401,504 11/1933 Great Britain 26/69 A Primary ExaminerH. Hampton Hunter Att0meyRiChard Low and Murray Schaffer [5 7] ABSTRACT A trouser formed of elastic shrinkable material in one piece form having a torso stabilized in stretched condition and leg portions stabilized in shrunken condition. A method for forming said trousers from a flat sheet or tubular form by cutting and joining selected edges and heat treating the fabric.

Apparatus comprising means for molding said joined trousers in stabilized form.

6 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures TROUSERS AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to the manufacture of 5 clothing articles and particularly to a novel construction of trousers and to the method of manufacturing the same as well as to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Trouser type garments have been manufactured either by conventional ready-made outerwear tailoring techniques or, in case of undergarments, by knitting on circular knitting machines. In the first instance, the gar- I ment is manufactured by joining patterned textile blanks together, i.e., by stitching knit splicing or heat sealing, etc., to form the desired product. A disadvantage of this method resides in the large waste of material due to patterning the blanks from textile piece goods. A disadvantage of the second method resides in the complicated, expensive and relatively inefficient knitting machines required.

Various types of garments have even been made from thermoplastic material which are then thermally fixed and shaped to the required size on a shaping mold. Such garments have generally been manufactured from a fabric tube or patterned pieces which, after having been shaped, are cut and sewn together to the desired garment configuration. It has however not been possible to produce garments with long leg parts, such as trousers, which are both stabilized in shape and size and have a good fashionable fit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved garments and their method of manufacture.

It is an object to simplify both the form and structure of garments such as trousers or pants and in addition to simplify their manufacture in order to reduce the cost thereof.

It is another object to provide a novel garment and method of manufacture employing the inherent heat sensitive characteristic of the newer textile materials.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a novel construction of trouser type garments which could be manufactured by using both simple and economical methods which eliminate the cutting and joining of the cut pattern pieces and, on the other hand, to propose a suitable apparatus for performing said method.

These objects, others as well as numerous advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In general, the garments made in accordance with the present invention are made from materials which are thermoplastic in nature and have both elastic and shrinkable qualities. The material may be provided in flat or planar bolt form or as a tubular form.

The term "thermoplastic textile fabric as used herein is to be understood as woven, knitted, or nonwoven fabric for clothing purposes, comprising elastic shrinkable thermoplastic fibers of polyester, polyamide and the like types, including blends with other manmade or natural non-thermosensitive fibers, such as wool, cotton, viscose or acetate rayon, etc., and which fabric after the thermal treatment, shrink and retain the fixed shape given to it. Ratios of the aforesaid nonthermoplastic fibers to thermoplastic fibers for the purposes of thermal fixation are well known and they are therefore not defined here in detail.

In preferred forms, the fabric is extensible and/or shrinkable in one or both directions and extensible and- /or shrinkable in different directions. Accordingly, in determining the ultimate or finished size of any garment, the specific extensibility or elasticity and shrinkability is taken into account in the choice or determination of the starting or initial size or form of the material chosen. Such factors are not uncommon to those skilled in the textile or garment manufacturing arts and their determination and compensation are well known.

According to the present invention, one piece garment, as for example a trouser, is formed provided with legs and a tubular torso and includes a connecting seam extending along the insides of each of the leg portions toward the crotch portion (and in an alternate construction, a second seam extending on the torso portion from the crotch to the garments waist edge). The torso portion is stabilized in prestressed condition to fix the material in stretched condition while the remaining parts, i.e., legs, including creases, waist, etc., is shaped by contraction and fixed in size in shrunken condition.

The connecting seam may be made by thread sewing, weave or knit splicing, or heat welding techniques. As the respective methods of forming connecting seams are notoriously well known in this art, it is unnecessary to describe or show them in detail.

The present method comprises the steps of supplying an elastic shrinkable thermoplastic material, folding the fabric to provide a substantially tubular form and cutting said fabric lengthwise along the longitudinal axis of the folded fabric up to the crotch point. The cut edges are connected to form leg portions and to define a torso portion above the crotch point. The joined fabric is placed on a frame mold, adapted to stretch the torso portion and to pennit the legs to shrink. The fab ric portion is then subjected to heat treatment which stabilizes the trousers in the stretched and shrunken condition to the size of the mold.

The present method may take many forms. In the case where the fabric is supplied as a flat sheet; a rectangle of predetermined size, the length of which corresponds, for example, substantially to the length of the trouser and the width of which to the circumference of the torso and to the quadruple width of legs, is selected. The fabric is symmetrically folded so that its outer edges meet within the longitudinal axis of the rectangle, and the lower part of the folded piece is cut through along said longitudinal axis up to the crotch portion. The outer edges of the folded sheet are joined by a connecting seam, i.e., the inner cut and original edges are joined by a connecting seam to form leg portions. Thereafter, the remaining portions of the outer edges extending from the crotch to the waist are joined by another connecting seam. The intermediate product is turned inside-out or inverted and is placed over a mold where under heat it is selectively stretched and shrunk to the predetermined shape. The heat molding step prestresses the product to stabilize its elasticized torso portions and its shrunken leg portions.

The connecting seam in the torso portion of the trouser may be either permanent, forming a closed garment, or only temporary, to hold the garment together during the molding step. In the latter case, the connecting seam is only designed to ensure the form of the garment during the thermal shaping operation. After the shaping operation, the connecting seam may be removed and replaced by conventional buttons, slide fasteners, or the like.

If the garment is to be manufactured from a tubular form, the hose length is also chosen to correspond substantially to the length of the trousers and the width is selected with regard to the circumference of the torso portion and to the quadruple width of the legs of the trouser type garment. The tube is folded to form a planar sheet (the outer edges being already joined) and both layers are cut through along the central longitudinal axis of the folded piece up to the crotch. The thusly formed adjacent inner edges are respectively connected to each other by a seam to form the leg portion. The then formed semi-product is shaped and formed on the mold in the manner afore-described.

In using a tubular form, the method may be modified so that the tubular fabric is folded to form a planar sheet as described and then one layer is cut through the entire length along its central longitudinal axis while the other layer is cut through only up to the crotch. Only the adjacent inner edges are connected to each other up to the crotch by a connecting seam to form the leg parts. The remaining portion of the inner edges extending from the crotch to the waist are joined to each other by another separate connecting seam, thereby forming the torso portion. The semi-finished product is heat-treated and molded as previously described.

Apparatus for carrying out the method of manufacturing garments of trouser type, according to the invention, comprises two stationary parallel shaping base plates having the form, that is the inside profile, of a folded trouser garment, including means for forming the crease. Between the plates there are adjustably arranged a posterior shaping member having an operating edge for shaping the seat part and an anterior shaping member having an operating edge for shaping the abdominal part of the garment. The posterior shaping member is adapted to be displaced outwards from its position between the base plates while the anterior shaping member is adapted to be displaced from outside into the position between the base plates.

In another embodiment of the apparatus both posterior and anterior shaping members are adapted to be displaced from the outside into a position between the plates so that in its torso portion the semi-finished trouser is folded into a configuration similar to a two mirror imaged letters M.

An advantage of the invention resides in the fact that wastage of the textile material is avoided and in the fact that the tedious and expensive preparation of cut blanks or patterns is also avoided. Unskilled personnel may be employed since virtually only straight seams are to be connected.

The garment according to the invention does not have any connecting seam within the most strained or stressed part, i.e., the seat. Consequently, the life of the garment is prolonged beyond the known lifetime of conventional garments. The connecting seams are, moreover, located in those portions of the trousers where they do not cause any discomfort to the wearer. This last property is particularly convenient when making breeches and leisure-time slacks. The fact that the seat part of the garment according to the present invention is seamless and elastic will be especially appreciated by wearers having a sedentary profession, such as office workers, vehicle drivers and the like.

As the product is free of outside seams, particularly fashionable effects can be obtained using striped and patterned fabrics.

Complete details and advantages of the present invention in all its aspects are set forth in the following disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A garment of trouser type (further referred to as trousers) and apparatus for their manufacture in accordance with the invention are shown schematically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a folded trouser made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the trousers of FIG. 1 in unfolded state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of the trousers of FIG. 1 in unfolded state without the abdominal connecting seam;

FIG. 4 is an elastic shrinkable thermoplastic textile fabric of rectangular form employed as starting material in the method according to the present invention for the manufacture of trousers;

FIG. 5 is the textile fabric, as shown in FIG. 4, in folded and cut-through state showing a later stage in the method;

FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of a semi-finished trouser in unfolded state, produced in still a later step from the sheet shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of an elastic shrinkable thermoplastic textile fabric in tubular form showing still another method according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the textile fabric as shown in FIG. 7 in folded state;

FIG. 9 is the textile fabric as shown in FIG. 8 in cutthrough state;

FIG. 10 is a semi-finished trouser produced from the sheet shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is the textile fabric as shown in FIG. 8, cutthrough in an alternative manner; and

FIG. 12 is a semi-finished trouser manufactured from the sheet as shown in FIG. 11.

The specific embodiments of the apparatus for carrying out the method of manufacturing the garment of trouser type according to the invention are schematically shown in:

FIG. 13 which illustrates a side view of the first embodiment of shaping mold in the preparatory position with the semi-finished trouser located thereon;

FIG. 14 which shows the first embodiment of the mold in operating position with the semi-finished trouser;

FIG. 15 which shows a side view of the empty mold;

FIG. 16 which shows an elevational view of another apparatus embodiment;

FIG. 17 which shows a plane view of the mold as illustrated in FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 which shows the mold as illustrated in FIG. 16 with the semi-finished trouser in section along line AA of FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION FIG. 1 shows schematically a side view of folded trousers according to the invention, and FIG. 2, an elevational view of the same pair of trousers but in unfolded state. The trousers comprise an abdominal part I, a seat part 2 and a pair of legs parts3 and 4 having front crease 5 and 6 as well as back creases 5' and 6, respectively. The parts are provided with straight connecting thread scams 7 and 8 extending along the inner lateral sides of the legs 3 and 4, respectively, toward the crotch part 9, and with another straight connecting seam I0 proceeding on the abdominal part 1 from the crotch 9 to a waist edge 11. The abdominal part 1 and the seat part 2 together form a torso portion T.

On the seat part 2 of the folded trousers (FIG. I) a fold 10 is indicated, merging, on the front part of the trousers, into the straight connecting seam 10.

FIG. 3 shows schematically the trousers without the straight connecting seam 10.

As herein before set forth, the trousers according to the invention are in both cases (FIGS. 1 and 3) a onepiece product, which means that they are manufactured from a single textile piece or sheet.

As noted, the trousers have seams only along the inside of the leg portions and along the central portion of the torso as shown by numeral 10, along the abdominal part. This latter seam may be separably fastened with buttons, slide fasteners such as 10a, hooks or other means. There is no seam in the seat or along the outsides of the leg portions.

In other respects, the trousers may be provided with conventional features such as hems or cuffs, belt loops, pockets, etc. As fully described later, the trousers are shaped and sized to any desired dimension so that they may be made in adult or child sizes and for men or women. Other features of the trousers will be seen from the description of the method of manufacture.

The following examples are illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the invention to the specific details thereof.

In the following method an elastic shrinkable material, which is heat sensitive and thermoplastic is employed. Proper attention is also given to the size of the initial material and the desired size of the end product so that proper compensation can be made for its elasticity and shrinkability.

For the manufacture of the trousers such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a thermoplastic textile was used, in the form of a rectangle or trapezium (FIG. 4) of length B and width 2A. The fabric was preferably polyester yarn being elastic in its width direction and shrinkable in its length direction. The length B corresponds to the desired trouser length whie the width A is selected with regard to the circumference of the torso portion (T) and to the quadruple width of legs (3,4) of the trousers. These dimensions are of course taken with the extensibility and shrinkability of said thermoplastic fabric well in mind. Thus for example, if a fabric was used of which both extensibility ahd shrinkability were percent, then a square sheet of 100 cm could be used to produce a trouser having a torso circumference of 1 10 cm and a desired quadruple leg width of 88 cm (i.e., four times 22 cm). Width 2A would be equal to 100 cm, whie B would be equal to the length of leg and torso as desired plus the amount for 15 percent shrinkage.

The fabric 12 was folded so that its outer edges 13 and 14 met within the longitudinal axis of the folded sheet of width A (shown by dotted line).

The lower layer of said folded sheet 12 then cutthrough along the central longitudinal axis within the length C corresponding to the leg length up from the lower edge to the crotch 9. The inner edges (dotted line) formed by cutting the fabric 12 within the length C are indicated as 15 and 116. The folded and cutthrough piece (designed for manufacturing the trousers semi-finished product) is shown in FIG. 5 where the inner edges 15 and 16 are indicated by the dotted line.

In the next step, the outer edge 13 was connected within the length C (by a sewing, weave or splicing or other suitable machine) by a straight connecting seam 7 to the adjacent inner cut edge 15 while the outer edge 14 was similarly connected by a straight connecting seam 8 also within the length C with the adjacent inner cut edge 16. Leg portions 3 and 4 are thus formed as seen in FIG. 6. The remaining upper sections of the outer edges 13 and 14, extending from the crotch 9 to the waist 11 were joined to each other by another and separate connecting seam 110 to close the abdominal part 1. A semi-finished trousers product 17 shown in unfolded state in FIG. 6 was then produced.

The semi-finished trousers 17 was then turned inside out or inverted manually or mechanically whereby the straight connecting seams 7 and 8 and 10 were in the interior of the product. The trousers were then placed according to the invention as herein set forth, over a shaping mold. After the posterior and anterior shaping elements of the mold had been displaced in or out as required, the semi-finished trouser was thermally treated to form the final trouser product as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. During the shaping operation, the abdominal part 1, seat part 2, fold 10 and legs 3 and 4 including front creases 5 and 6 and back creases 5' and 6' were formed.

In another example, a starting material was used comprising a tubular fabric 18 (FIG. 7) of length B and width A the latter being determined as set forth above. The fabric was folded to form a planar sheet (FIG. 8 and FIG. 9), and its two layers 18a and 18b were cutthrough within the length C along the longitudinal axis of the piece. The upper layer 18a was thus formed with inner edges 19, 20 while the underlayer 1812 was formed with inner edges 21, 22 (indicated by the dotted lines). The inner edges 19, 21 and 20, 22 were, of course, adjacent to each other, respectively.

In the next step, the adjacent inner edges 19, 21 and 20, 22 were joined to each other by straight connecting seams 7 and 8, respectively, within the length C, i.e., up to the crotch 9, whereby the legs 3 and 4 are built (FIG. 10). g

The semi-finished trouser 23 (FIG. 10) was then manually or mechanically turned inside out so that the straight connecting scams 7 and 8 were inside the product. The semi-finished product was pulled over a shaping mold, in a manner as hereinafter set forth. After the posterior and anterior shaping elements had been displaced in or out, respectively, the semi-finished product was thermally treated to the final three-dimensional product as illustrated in FIG. 3. During the shaping operation, the abdominal part l, the seat part 2, fold 10' (as seen in FIG. 1 and the legs 3 and 4 were all formed the length C only to thereby form inner edges 21, 22 (FIG. 11).

The adjacent inner edges 19 and 21 and 20 and 22 are then joined to each other by the straight connecting scams 7 and 8 (FIG. 12), respectively, within the length C to form the legs 3 and 4. The remaining portions of the inner edges 19 and 20 extending from the crotch 9 to the waist 11 were joined to each other by means of another straight connecting seam within the length, equalling the difference of B minus C. Straight connecting seam 10 being a continuation of the seam 7 or 8, the abdominal part 1 of the trouser semi-finished product 24 was closed (FIG. 12).

The further steps of this example corresponded to that described in the second example. The final product is shown in FIG. 2.

Turning now to FIG. 13 and FIG. 15, an embodiment of the apparatus for shaping the semi-finished trouser to form a completed pair of long trousers will be explained by way of example.

The apparatus comprises two stationary parallel shaping base plates 25 and 26 (FIG. 15) having in side profile the form of a folded pair of trousers. The plates 25 and 26 may be tapered in cross section or otherwise have the shape of a trouser or pant leg. Each plate is of course similar to the other and being of a length at least as long as that of the desired trouser leg. The base plates are arranged on a support 27 consisting of two horizontal frame members connected to each other by means of two bolts 28 and 29. The apparatus includes a posterior shaping member 30 and an anterior shaping member 31, which are adapted to pivot at the waist portion and to rotate between the support 27 within the shaping base plates 25 and 26 (FIG. 15).

The posterior shaping member 30 is provided with an outer rounded operating edge 32 for shaping the seat part 2 of the trousers (FIG. 1) and with a lug 33 by which it can be manually handled. The posterior member 30 is journalled about a pivot 34 fixed on the support 27. The anterior shaping member 31 is provided with an inner rounded operating edge 35 having a 1- form for shaping the abdominal trouser part 1 from the exterior. The shaping member 31 is provided with a lug 36 and mounted for rotation on a bolt 29 fixed to the support 27.

Both the lug 33 of the posterior part 30 is provided with a hole 37 and the lug 36 of the anterior part 31 with a hole 38, respectively, for receiving stop pins 39 and 40 (FIG. 14). The stop pins are designed for locking both posterior and anterior shaping members 30 and 31, respectively, in an adjusted operating position.

In order to lock the posterior and anterior shaping members 30 and 31, respectively, the support 27 is provided with a plurality of corresponding holes 41 and 42 in circular arches of which the center of curvatures lie along the axes of the pivot 34 and the bolt 29, respectively. By positioning the stop pins 39 and 40 in any one of the holes 41 and 42, the members 30 and 31 can be adjustably positioned.

FIG. 13 shows the apparatus as it receives the semifinished trousers which here been merely pulled over it.

In the preparation position, as shown in FIG. 14, the posterior shaping member 30 is moved down so as not to extend over the profile of the shaping base plates 25 and 26 and to thereby lie within the semi-finished trouser. The anterior shaping member 31, on the other hand, is in an elevated position beyond the shaping base plates 25 and 26.

In this condition, the semi-finished trouser 17 is pulled over the shaping base plates 25 and 26 so that its abdominal connecting seam 10 lies between the plates 25 and 26 in an area within the path of movement of the rounded operating edge 35 of the anterior shaping member 31 while the leg connecting seams 7 and 8 are placed in the center between the shaping base plates 25 and 26, as indicated in FIG. 13.

Depending on the desired size and form of the desired trousers to be obtained, the posterior shaping member 30 is then turned about the pivot 34 clockwise till the material of the semi-finished trouser 17 in the seat part 2 is elastically extended, taking on the form of the rounded operating edge 32. When the desired size is reached, the member 30 is locked in the position by inserting the stop pin 39 into one of the holes 41 and into the hole 37 of the lug 33.

In the next step, the anterior shaping member 31 is moved downward in clockwise direction about the bolt 29 from the position shown in FIG. 13 to that shown in FIG. 14 at which time it is secured by a stop pin 40 inserted into any of the holes 42 provided in the support 27 and into the hole 38 in the lug 36. In this position, the rounded operating edge 25 of the anterior shaping member 31 will push the abdominal connecting seam 10 or the abdominal part 1 of the trouser between the shaping base plates 25 and 26, as shown in FIG. 14. This stretch shaping process is permitted by the elasticity and extensibility of the material from which the trouser 17 is made.

In the other embodiment of the apparatus shown there are also provided the two stationary parallel base plates 25 and 26 having a side profile of a folded pair of trousers and a pair of posterior and anterior shaping members 30' and 31' respectively. In this case however both posterior and anterior members 30' and 31 and the base plates 25, 26 can be inserted from the outside for example, by mounting the members on guide rails and by shifting them laterally as illustrated in FIG. 16. They may also be pivoted as shown in FIG. 14.

The semi-finished trousers are pulled over the shaping base plates 25,26 of FIG. 16 in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 15. After insertion of shaping members 30' and 31 the trousers are formed into a configuration similar to a pair of mirror-reflected latters M (see FIG. 18). In this case the abdominal part 1 is shaped in the same manner as in the first case (i.e., by stretching the material inwardly), whilst the shaping of the seat part 2 is carried out by pushing it in between the shaping base plates 25, 26 instead of pulling it outwardly therefrom, as was the case seen in FIG. 14.

In any case, the mould with the semi-finished trouser 17 on it is then conveyed manually or mechanically to a heat shaping and fixing machine (not shown). Such machines are well known, and for example are similar to those used in shaping and fixing semi-finished hosiery. Such machines subject the semi-finished product to the action of predetermined hot steam for a predetermined time period. Preferably the base plates 25 and 26 and the shaping members 30 and 31 are also provided with heating means. They may for example be hollow with a plurality of holes and be connected to a source of steam. Thus in this machine the trouser 17 is actually shaped, i.e., the thermoplastic textile fabric acquires the form of the shaping elements. The desired product is dried, stabilized, or otherwise fixed in accordance with further well-known processes, as for instance, by the action of dry, hot air, or the like, so that the torso portion T of the trousers is stabilized to form in prestressed condition while the remaining trouser parts, i.e., legs 3,4 including creases 5,5, 6,6, waist 11 etc., are shrunk to size.

After the removal of the mould together with the trousers from the heat shaping and fixing machine the stop pins 39 and 40 are removed and both the anterior and posterior shaping members are returned to their starting positions the mould having the final form shown in FIGS. l and 2. The trousers possess the form which fully corresponds, both in size and shape, to a product conventionally tailored, i.e., by stitching cut patterned blanks together, except that it is free of the usual exterior side leg seams, seat scams or other disadvantages.

The desired dimensions of the abdominal part 1 and the seat part 2 of the trousers may be easily varied by adjusting the position of both anterior and posterior shaping members 31,30, or 3l',30, respectively, or by replacement with members of a different shape or by changing the stationary shaping base plates 25,26.

The pair of trousers shown in FIG. 3 which does not have a torso seam is shaped in the same manner on the apparatus described. The semi-finished trouser 23 (FIG. is pulled over the shaping base plates 25, 26 in such a way that an imaginary connecting seam is lo cated in the path of movement of the rounded operating edge 35 of the anterior shaping member 31. All other steps can be repeated.

It is thus seen that by using suitable thermoplastic fabrics and by combining the method steps with the apparatus described, a simple economical trouser is obtained. The method is simple, requiring only a minimum number of seams to be cut and or sewn or otherwise joined. ln each case the seams are straight and may be sewn by inexperienced low cost help. The apparatus for shaping and fixing the trousers is also very simple and may be used by a labor force having very little training.

The present invention takes advantage of the inherent elasticity and shrinkability of the modern synthetic fabrics, and uses (what would otherwise normally be a disadvantage to properly fashion and tailor) these characteristics to provide a stabilized and size fixed garment. By choosing to stretch the torso portion, while shrinking the leg portions the trousers can be carefully and accurately sized and shaped by heat processing. Various combinations of shrinkable and elastic characteristics can be readily chosen.

Because of the fact that only a minimum number of seams are formed, fabrics of particular design, pattern, weave and print may be chosen and very fashionable and modish garments obtained. It will also be obvious that various designs will require modification, change, or adjustment of the specific details of the present invention. Such modifications will be apparent to those skilled in this art. Consequently, it will be recognized that the present disclosure is merely illustrative and should not be taken as limiting in any manner.

The shrinkage of the trouser semi-finished product material on the mold need not be carried out only within the leg part thereof but in many cases also within the waist portion, provided the latter is to be made narrower than the seat part.

We claim:

1. A garment of the trouser type comprising a single piece of elastic and shrinkable textile fabric, said garment being formed with a tubular torso portion and a pair ofleg portions, each leg portion having a seam running along the inside thereof from the lower edge to the crotch thereof, said garment being stabilized and fixed in the shape of a trouser, wherein simultaneously the torso portion is prestressed in stretched condition and the leg portions in shrunken condition.

2. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the torso is provided with a central seam running from the crotch to the waist.

3. The garment according to claim 1 wherein said garment is formed from a tubular textile fabric said fabric being cut to provide the leg portions and having a seam closing the cut of said leg portions.

4. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the garment is formed from a rectangular sheet of textile fabric, said fabric being folded and cut to provide the leg portions and torso portion and having a seam closing the cut of said leg and torso portions.

5. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the textile fabric is thermoplastic.

6. The garment according to claim 2 wherein said central seam is provided with separable fastening means. 

1. A garment of the trouser type comprising a single piece of elastic and shrinkable textile fabric, said garment being formed with a tubular torso portion and a pair of leg portions, each leg portion having a Seam running along the inside thereof from the lower edge to the crotch thereof, said garment being stabilized and fixed in the shape of a trouser, wherein simultaneously the torso portion is prestressed in stretched condition and the leg portions in shrunken condition.
 2. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the torso is provided with a central seam running from the crotch to the waist.
 3. The garment according to claim 1 wherein said garment is formed from a tubular textile fabric said fabric being cut to provide the leg portions and having a seam closing the cut of said leg portions.
 4. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the garment is formed from a rectangular sheet of textile fabric, said fabric being folded and cut to provide the leg portions and torso portion and having a seam closing the cut of said leg and torso portions.
 5. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the textile fabric is thermoplastic.
 6. The garment according to claim 2 wherein said central seam is provided with separable fastening means. 